Battle Studies

Pretty much since he got his highly commercial Room For Squares album out of the way, John Mayer's work can take a bit of time to grow on you.
And so it is with Battle Studies, his fourth major release (though sixth if you count the debut EP Inside Wants Out and the Try! jazz release) and one that drips with the angst of relationships.
It's not really surprising since Mayer has been known more for his extra curricular activities lately than his music.
Battle Studies is rife with songs about regret, lost love and independence, either by force or by choice.
Unlike Continuum, which was groovy even when the song was a shade depressing, Battle Studies sounds like a war. It's hard work at times but, in true Mayer style, the brilliance of his songwriting shines through (except for one track which I find very pedestrian especially for him).
The opener Heartbreak Warfare gets us off to a very good start then he drops his bundle completely on the annoying All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye.
If one song stands out, aside from the fact it has been playing in my head all day, it is Half Of My Heart. It has life to it and is incredibly catchy, in the vein of Bigger Than My Body (sort of). Apparently it is a duet with Taylor Swift but unless he drowns her out completely she only sings two lines in the whole song. Go figure.
The slightly controversial Who Says is a solid song and Perfectly Lonely is passable.
One of the highlights for me is War Of My Life, which when I heard it the first time I immediately wanted to hear it again.
Of the final three I think Edge Of Desire stands out. If you're a Mayer fan (he's my favourite male singer) than this won't let you down, though it is not as consistent as Continuum or even Heavier Things.
Having said that he's done better than (my favourite female singer) Mariah Carey, who continues to pump out mediocre (on the whole) albums with only three or four standout tracks.

Outrage

Another win for the minorities.
Today, Racing Victoria announced that after the 2010 season it will cease jumping races for good.
This is a decision that is so bad it's not even close to being funny.
Not only are they placing thousands of racing industry participants in jeopardy by reducing their capacity to earn they are flying against the rest of the world where jumping is embraced and celebrated as part of racing culture.
And, they have condemned countless horses, who aren't good enough to be competitive in flat races, to certain death.
Now the do-gooders, RSPCA and such, claim that jumping racing is cruel and causes unnecessary death and injury to horses. Well now they themselves have caused unnecessary deaths to horses that would otherwise be nurtured.
People who own horses love them like children, some people more than their children, and these horses are cared for and pampered like kings and queens. These same horses will now become unviable and be sold off. There are very few places for them to go if they can't be moved into equestrian (which is more dangerous than racing, IMO) or used as lead horses. Most will end up at the knackery.
I love my racing and jumping is a big part of what keeps it interesting in the off season. Thankfully South Australia hasn't caved in, for now. They at least want to support their own industry. It is just a shame Racing Victoria doesn't.
It's more than a shame. A disgrace.

The Boys Are Back

Amid all the Hollywood hype over vampire movies and other blockbusters comes this story that is so simple it is easy to miss.

Set in South Australia, The Boys Are Back is about loss but it is also about men, of different ages, and how they cope with it.

Clive Owen plays Joe Warr, a sports journalist who left his wife and son in England when he fell in love with Katy (Laura Fraser) and they had a son together, Artie (Nicholas McAnulty).

Tragically, Katy dies of cancer and Joe is forced to face bringing up his son on his own. Complicating matters is the fact that Artie is a bit difficult, at times he seems as though he just switches off and doesn't listen. Perhaps that is his way of coping.

When Joe's English son Harry (George MacKay) arrives, wanting to get to know his father, Joe struggles to handle his two young sons - but for very different reasons.

Harry, who is eight years older than Artie, doesn't understand why he was abandoned (in his view) by his father when he started his new family. Artie battles to keep his father's attention when Harry arrives and when other people start to invade his space.

While not a comedy by any stretch there were some very funny moments.

I had to laugh when Joe tells Artie his shoes are on the wrong feet and Artie responds 'but they are the only feet I have'.

I have to say, also, that Joe must be a very highly paid sports reporter (for what appeared to be The Australian) to be able to have the lifestyle that he does!

One thing director Scott Hicks (remember Shine) doesn't give you is definite answers and while that might be unfulfilling I think it rings true to life.

He does give you excellent performances from Owen (who is almost always very good) and the two young boys. It's very well shot and the South Australian coast is a very scenic prop to use.

This is a nice movie but not one that is going to grab you and demand your attention. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, because sometimes subtlety works. A 7.5 out of 10.

The challenge

After having a mixed November when it comes to my punting I've decided it would be good for me to take a break.
Now, before I go any further I have to say this. I haven't got into any trouble, but aside from the Melbourne Cup trifecta it hasn't been a winning time of late.
So, as I said, I believe it will be good for me to take a break and find other things to do on a Saturday afternoon. Sure I will still have to watch the races eventually but that's what recording devices are for.
This is something I would usually do in the middle of the year but since I haven't for a few years it's a good time to prove to myself that I don't need to gamble.
One good thing about this little personal challenge is that it is something I have done before so that makes it (hopefully) much more manageable than it would otherwise.
I'm also hoping that by doing this it will help me to reduce the amount that I invest when I lift the ban after Christmas.
So, wish me luck.

New Moon

Despite being a shade boring in the first 20 minutes or so New Moon delivers on what it promised when Twilight finished up 12 months ago.

I don't really understand all the teenage girl hype that has been going on since Twilight hit screens last year (I find Edward to be a really painful character).

Anyway, New Moon begins with Bella's (Kristen Stewart) 18th birthday. She doesn't want to make a big deal of it but allows herself to be enticed by Edward (Robert Pattinson) into a celebration with his family.

As gifts are handed out with varying amounts of glee, Bella cuts herself and the blood that follows (despite it being a minor cut) clicks Jasper into action and he rushes at her. As a result of Edward's protection Bella is badly cut and he eventually decides it is time he left and the family packs up and moves away from Forks.

Bella plunges into depression.

Eventually she starts hanging out with Jacob (Taylor Launtner) and this is where the movie starts to pick up and get interesting.

I guess it is because Jacob is a bit more interesting than Edward and more three dimensional that makes the film much more watchable.

The best bits, though, involve the emergence of the werewolves and the introduction of the Volturi (fans will know what this is about). New Moon sees Jacob emerge as a player for Bella's affections and she is forced to choose.

I had hoped that New Moon would be significantly better than Twilight but I have to settle with it being on par.

However, there are some great things about New Moon. The aforementioned werewolves. The scene in which they appear through the trees is awesome and the fight between Paul and Jacob is great. The scenes with Laurent in the clearing, chasing Victoria, the cliff diving scene, Alice's return and her confrontation with Jacob, the Yellow Porsche, the weird date with Mike and Jacob to the movies. I could go on.

If you've read the book, the film will please you (after a slow start). If you haven't you won't really want to see it anyway.

So we move on to Eclipse and there are some awesome scenes I'm keen to see played out on screen. There's a new director for Twilight III and one that has more of a storyteller's reputation. So the hopes will again be raised.

As for New Moon, I'll go 8 out of 10 and bring on June 2010.

Grinch

When it comes to Christmas, which scarily is just over a month away, at times I've been a bit grinchy.
I'm not sure why. I always loved Christmas.
So, I'm going to make a concerted effort to enjoy the festive time this year. Last year was my first Christmas I was able to spend with family for almost a decade as I've always had to work the next day and 500km of driving each way within 36 hours isn't appealing or safe at that time. There have also been other reasons.
Anyway, what's not to like about Christmas? It's all about fun, you get to watch one of the greatest films of all time (It's A Wonderful Life) and it's great to watch the kids enjoying their presents.
So while I still think Festivus is a great idea and one I will note I'd like to give Christmas a proper try this time.

2012

I know I said in the review for The Box that I love films that make you think. I must add that there is a place for the blockbuster.

With its extensive use of CGI, 2012 is very much a spectacular, if overly long, ride. Based on the theory that the Mayan calendar will end on December 21, 2012, thus heralding the end of the world, 2012 doesn't hold back on the destruction.

It's almost like the director was practicing for this one when he made Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow.

For what it is worth, the story centres on a White House scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who has discovered that the earth's core is heating up fast and that the world as we know it is coming to an end. Over a period of a few years (the discovery was 2009) the US government keeps it quiet as it builds hi-tech Arks to salvage some of humanity.

Our other focus is small time author and limo driver Jackson Curtis (John Cusack in a rare action type role) whose connection with his children is becoming more and more distant thanks to his ex-wife's (Amanda Peet) new man. I have to admit that John Cusack is one of my very favourite actors and his presence is handy.

Curtis stumbles upon a crazy doomsday believer Charlie (Woody Harrelson) on a camping trip to Yellowstone whose theories appear to be correct.

You don't really have to see the film to know what is going to happen with the Curtises, the reason to see this one is the spectacular destruction of the world. Nothing is spared and I have to admit it can be a shade unsettling if you think about it too much.

(I must have because last night my dreams were definitely influenced by seeing 2012, although inexplicably I had access to jet packs).

I have to admit that, if you do think about it, it does make you realise how much we are at the mercy of nature. We all like to think we can be in control of our destinies but there is a much bigger force out there than we like to admit.

2012 is not rocket science for a movie goer (though there is a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo) but it does fulfil its goal - taking you on one heck of a ride. A 7 out of 10.

The Box

I love a film that makes you think.
While it is mysterious, weird and requires your full attention, I thoroughly enjoyed The Box , made by the man behind the groundbreaking Donnie Darko.
If you've seen Donnie then you have a fair idea that all your questions aren't going to be answered. In fact, it might well raise more questions.
The Box features Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as Norma and Arthur Lewis, a seemingly perfect couple who live in Virginia in 1976.
Arthur wants to be an astronaut and has been working for NASA on a Mars project while Norma is a school teacher who has a disfigured foot, we find out because of a medical bungle when she was 17.
They have a son and while they live 'from paycheck to paycheck' they seem to have a good life.
Early one morning a package arrives and inside it is a plain looking brown box with a button on it and a card that says someone will call by at 5pm.
When that time arrives a gruesome looking man, Mr Steward, presents Norma with a gruesome proposal - if you push the button, I will give you $1 million but someone you don't know will die.
It raised a couple of questions for me.
Could I do such a thing, would my conscience allow an innocent (though unknown to me) person to die for a huge windfall? There's always a catch, isn't there. It made me think this way: if something looks too good to be true then it probably is.
Maybe the lesson is to appreciate what we have and that when we 'sell our souls' (regardless of whether literally or just by going against one's values) we don't always benefit.
I could go on and on and on about what's raised in this complex film but since I try not to do spoilers I won't go into what happens. I thought it was fairly well acted and it was nice to see James Marsden in a serious role.
Donnie Darko was an odd film and wasn't easy to follow. Thankfully The Box is a shade easier to go with but it still requires some work. I enjoyed it, though I have to say it was tough going at times. It's not necessarily a feel good film (neither was Donnie Darko) but one that, if nothing else, will get you thinking. I'm going 8 out of 10.

What has to change?

It's becoming clearer to me that something has to change but what isn't clear is what aspect of my life that it is.
Maybe I'm just frustrated a bit by a few things and am looking a bit too hard.
I know I need to get moving a lot more and I think that will also have a positive effect on the way I see things. It's amazing how a habit is relatively easy to form but really hard to break.
In spring I tend to get out of the habit of heading out for walks and this year the effect of that has been a lot more noticeable, both physically and mentally.
It's now November 7 and I'm running out of excuses (internally) for not going, the silly phobia that makes me indoorsy is basically now not an issue.
And the strange thing about it is that I really enjoy grabbing the discman (no, I haven't yet succumbed to the ipod craze) and heading out, usually barefoot, for a wander. Not only is it good exercise but it is soothing.

This Is It

If one thing is clear from watching This Is It it is that Michael Jackson was planning quite an extravagant show for his comeback/farewell tour.

On one hand while watching the documentary-style film of his rehearsals reminds you once again of what a great artist he was.

But on the other you can't help but look for signs that his health was failing. I couldn't find any obvious ones other than the fact that he looks thin. Then again, he has always been thin. A sick person could not perform the moves he does on stage with such fluency and precision, I can say that for sure.

But he also comes across as though he was trying to retain his youth by having this tiny body and his ageing face didn't fit it. Quite sad, really.

We meet the young dancers who have been chosen to perform with him and they are an eclectic bunch but clearly they see the opportunity as once in a lifetime. One of them says he's been searching for meaning or something to make life worthwhile and he believed that 'this is it'. How poetic.

As I said it's clear Michael had big plans for the show. And that is something that should surprise no-one - this is the guy who had 15 metre statues of himself pop up all over the world to promote his History CD.

From the cinematic Smooth Criminal, the CGI-enhanced crowd of thousands for They Don't Care About Us, the re-imagining of Thriller to the grandstanding of Earth Song, this was going to be massive.

You are able to get a glimpse of the perfectionist Michael was when it came to his music, a rare chance to see what drove him. He does a lot of saying 'God bless you' and 'I love you' to the people he is working with, describing them as his family.

There's one odd scene I will mention. The dancers appear to be taking classes in crotch-grabbing. There's something quite disturbing yet amusing about a bunch of 20-something dancers repeatedly grabbing themselves.

Overall, it's obvious this was thrown and mashed together from various rehearsals but it makes for interesting viewing. It's like having your own backstage pass to the creation of the tour. It's also hard not to want to sing along.

Another point worth making is how passionate he is about the environment and it made me wonder why he wasn't more outspoken in the last 5-10 years.

I'm not going to give the film a rating but I will say I'm glad I've seen it on the big screen.

Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel

It's taken me a while to buy the latest Mariah Carey album, largely because I really dislike the packaging.
Sure, it's a trivial reason not to buy something but I am a stickler for continuity when it comes to additions to a series.
That out of the way, Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel is far from a classic Mariah Carey album - but having said that it isn't bad either.
While with previous releases there are a bunch of tracks I quickly ignore this one is nice enough to listen to most of the way through. However, there aren't many highlights.
I read somewhere that when they were making this album the idea was to make a greatest hits album without having any greatest hits, if that makes sense. Unfortunately Mariah has fired her two best shots with the first two singles, Obsessed and I Want To Know What Loves Is (the only song on here that qualifies as a greatest hit being a cover of an 80s classic and one of my top 10 of all time).
In my opinion there are four songs on here that are memorable. They are HATEU, The Impossible, Angels Cry and I Want To Know What Love Is. (Just on that song, I wonder why she ditched a verse and changed the first one to be a conglomeration of the first two - the first verse ends with 'in case I need it when I'm older' then goes into a second, not 'in case I need it when I'm colder').
The rest vary from nice to bearable.
Come on, Mariah. I know you're trying really hard not to be the wholesome girl from the 90s but that's who you profess to be much of the time.
I don't think we're going to get another Mariah album where you can sit back and listen to 90 per cent of the songs and want to listen over again (like Music Box, Daydream and even Charmbracelet). It's a shame, because she's an absolute master at the power ballad and the light pop tune but still rank amateur at the R&B crap she's dishing out.